George Mason University

Date: Sep 30 2015
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
George Mason has been the worst university experience I have ever had. I have attended four other universities as part of my educational pursuit (3 for undergraduate degrees, and 1 for pre-requisites for master's). I have attended so many because I'm from an Army family and thus have been required to move several times. I am attending GMU to take more classes for pre-requisites for my master's now that I am back in the USA, and I am extremely disappointed. If there were another university I could attend to take all my courses I would. My experience makes me wonder if GMU would be so big if another university in the area existed as a competitor. My complaints against GMU are numerous. Their system is so bogged down by bureaucracy that nothing can be accomplished quickly. The staff and instructors are so devoted to the institution that they cannot think for themselves, and will only answer 'no' to any question that might go against university set policy. Heaven forbid that university policy be questioned, even if it could use some changes. I had an adviser actually tell me that, because I wanted to take a course that wasn't necessarily in my "degree" program, but required for my master's degree, that I was inefficient, and not trying to actually learn! On top of that, the GPA calculations are unlike any I have seen before. Most universities operate under A = 4.0 standards. Not GMU, they have to be different and for difference's sake you must have a 95 or higher to achieve a 4.0. This might not be a problem except that departments, such as the chemistry department in particular, develop grading guidelines that make it near impossible to obtain scores high enough to make a 4.0. I have come to GMU with 2 bachelor degrees already, both with 4.0 standing, and first in my graduating classes. However, by coming here, my GPA might drop simply because they are trying to make everything harder than it needs to be. They want to be Ivy League, but all they are is pedant, with no substance. Again, I wish there was another school I could attend for my classes, but being stuck in the northern virginia area for the next year makes my choices limited. If you are considering GMU I highly recommend looking anywhere else.